cannabisnews.com: Ending The 'War on Drugs'
function share_this(num) {
 tit=encodeURIComponent('Ending The 'War on Drugs'');
 url=encodeURIComponent('http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/25/thread25014.shtml');
 site = new Array(5);
 site[0]='http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[1]='http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit.php?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[2]='http://digg.com/submit?topic=political_opinion&media=video&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[3]='http://reddit.com/submit?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[4]='http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 window.open(site[num],'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=620,height=500');
 return false;
}






Ending The 'War on Drugs'
Posted by CN Staff on September 18, 2009 at 11:06:34 PT
By Misha Glenny
Source: New York Times
World -- Vancouver in British Columbia, Ciudad Juárez in northern Mexico and Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan are unlikely cousins. But together these three places and their ilk have wrought a remarkable change in one of the world’s most important debates over the past two years.For decades, the idea of legalizing narcotics was supported by only a small minority. But as global markets in illicit drugs have expanded exponentially since the early 1990s, policy makers and law enforcement agencies alike have been overwhelmed by the challenge posed by the prohibition of a long list of drugs. 
Markets have spread to places that for decades had no significant drug problem, like China and Indonesia, while the numbers of addicts in countries like Iran have grown hugely.Two significant developments are contributing to the sudden surge in calls for reconsidering prohibition. The first is that drugs are now damaging long-term Western security interests, especially in Afghanistan and Mexico. The second is that production is migrating away from its traditional homes like Colombia and the Golden Triangle and moving into the heart of Western consumer areas like Canada, the Netherlands and Britain.The problem is becoming so dramatic that elder statesmen, senior law enforcement officers, intellectuals and philanthropists the world over are speaking out loud and clear: The “War on Drugs” is a disastrous policy that achieves none of its aims and inflicts huge damage on global security and governance wherever it is prosecuted.They argue that state regulation of the drug market would reduce the health and social risks posed by narcotics and generate huge tax revenues, which could be hypothecated to absorb any costs. At the moment, the vast profits from the illegal drug trade go into the pockets of organized crime syndicates and terrorist groups.The most urgent appeals for a rethink have emanated from South America, where respected figures like the former president of Brazil, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, have highlighted how the war on drugs has done nothing to stop the trade in illegal narcotics but has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the perpetuation of ruthless gang cultures in the most deprived areas of the continent.Diego Gambetta, an Oxford University criminologist and one of the world’s greatest authorities on the Sicilian Mafia, has spoken out forcefully for an end to the war on drugs. In the United States, the most effective group demanding change is Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, or LEAP, which is made up of current and former police officers, including erstwhile operatives of the Drug Enforcement Agency.Commentators in Europe and America have highlighted how prohibition is responsible for the thousands killed in Mexico’s cocaine wars. The United States is being drawn into the violence as Mexican cartels purchase most of their weapons in Texas and other states.Most critically, the Taliban in Afghanistan is waging an effective battle against NATO forces because opium’s inflated value, caused by prohibition, enables the insurgents to purchase hundreds of millions of dollars of weaponry every year. Worse, the Kabul government that NATO is propping up is itself riddled with corruption fueled by the lucrative narcotics trade.Moreover, is the world going to do nothing as Colombian and Venezuelan cartels use their immense financial muscle to corrupt and destroy fragile West African states like Sierra Leone and Liberia by turning them into a springboard for cocaine exports to Europe? The cartels already have swept aside stable governance in Guinea Bissau.There has been no concerted attempt by the Obama administration or other Western governments to counter the growing sentiment in favor of drug law reform, although the president himself is on record as opposing legalization.I have spoken to countless politicians who agree in private that, as one of them put it, “in 100 years we may look back and ask what on earth were we doing by prohibiting narcotics?” But they remain hesitant to articulate this in public for fear of the opprobrium it will bring.Supporters of legalization have all but won the moral and intellectual debate, but they now face the most difficult argument of all — the political one. That is unlikely to be won in Washington, where prohibition continues to enjoy powerful support. But we are seeing an erosion of the drug-war consensus in countries like Argentina, Mexico, Portugal and Switzerland — where drugs either have been decriminalized or de facto legalized.Canada faces special pressure — not only is it one of the world’s major producers of cannabis, but it also has been identified by the U.N.’s Office on Drugs and Crime as one of the manufacturing centers of synthetic drugs such as ecstasy and methamphetamines, supplying users in the United States and as far away as Australia.Vancouver has become a global hub, exporting marijuana and methamphetamines while importing cocaine destined for the United States and the local market. Drug-related killings have proliferated during the past 18 months, provoking a sense of crisis. The campaign for marijuana legalization continues to grow there, garnering support from politicians around the country.After 80 years of war on drugs, consumers have easier access to a greater variety of these products than ever. Prices continue to drop while the profits of narco-traffickers go up. But — given the developments in South America, Europe and Canada — we are perhaps for the first time seeing the emergence of a coalition determined to challenge a policy that generates unimaginable misery year in and year out.Misha Glenny is the author of “McMafia: A Journey through the Global Criminal Underworld.”Source: New York Times (NY)Author: Misha GlennyPublished: September 18, 2009Copyright: 2009 The New York Times CompanyContact: letters nytimes.comWebsite: http://www.nytimes.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/2j1Y8OlbCannabisNews Justice Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/justice.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help 
     
     
     
     




Comment #28 posted by FoM on September 19, 2009 at 17:04:11 PT
rchandar
I only know what I read in my California E-Mail list and it seems very complicated what is going on out there.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #27 posted by rchandar on September 19, 2009 at 16:29:00 PT:
MMJ
Hello--Can anyone give me a take on the cannabis scene in LA? Around the MMJ centers? (Strictly illegal, of course)--rchandar
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #26 posted by FoM on September 19, 2009 at 16:07:27 PT
 Marijuana Activists Take To Boston Commons
Video: http://www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/2009/09/19/Marijuana-activists-take-to/1253398428.html
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #25 posted by FoM on September 19, 2009 at 12:13:30 PT
Storm Crow
Thank you so much! You brought tears to my eyes. He is one loved man.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #24 posted by Storm Crow on September 19, 2009 at 12:07:46 PT
The latest on Jack.....
Tim and Bonnie King, who run the Salem-News, are friends of Jack and had the story before the other papers. M&H are Matt and Holly, who are also Jack's personal friends. 
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/september172009/jack_update_9-17-09.php#commentsM&H September 19, 2009 10:31 am (Pacific time)I spoke to Jeannie this morning. As of this morning, 9/19 Jack is still in critical but stable condition. I personally worked with Jeannie to set up a donation fund with US BANK. So, yes, it is legitimate. Please call or go to any US BANK branch. Tell them you are donating to the JACK HERER DONATION ACCOUNT. This account is for the mounting medical bills and other expenses Jeannie is dealing with. Thank you all for caring so very much!!!M&H September 19, 2009 10:59 am (Pacific time)Just to stop a few rumors…. My husband was one of the first responders to Jack. As soon as Jack went down, people were trying to help him as best they knew how. When my husband got there approx 2 minutes later, he took over as he has advanced CPR training for medical providers. He was providing one man CPR when one of our paid security officers arrived. Then they switched to two man CPR. As they worked on Jack, his color started to return and Jack coughed a few times. The ambulance arrived and the EMT’s worked on him. He was transported out of the park by ambulance and they met Life Flight out on the main road. Life Flight then flew him to Emanuel Hospital. As we stated previously, as of 9/19 this morning, Jack is still in critical but stable condition. Additionally, the fund is legit. We helped Jeannie set it up at US BANK. Go to any US BANK branch or call them. Tell them you want to donate to the JACK HERER DONATION ACCOUNT. They can verify for you that the fund was set up at the Emanuel Hospital branch and is legitimate. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #23 posted by FoM on September 19, 2009 at 10:44:22 PT
museman
Have a great day and please do that for Jack and his family. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #22 posted by museman on September 19, 2009 at 10:29:30 PT
FoM
IMO if you don't have, or haven't read that book, you can't possibly be adequately informed about cannabis prohibition. All the facts are out there in various places, but Jack put it together for us, and that is the anti-prohibitionist 'bible.'Well, getting ready to go to the Barter Fair. I made some brownies for me and my medically licensed friends, and the sampling process has made me a bit giddy.I'll get some prayer action going at the Fair.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #21 posted by FoM on September 19, 2009 at 09:41:04 PT
museman
I have a signed copy of the The Emperor Wears No Clothes. I value it because I value Jack. I would never have continued doing CNews without people like him keeping it real.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #20 posted by museman on September 19, 2009 at 09:09:33 PT
FoM
Jack gave us the most important publication to ever enter the battle for cannabis sanity. Its no coincidence that I constantly refer to the 'naked emperor'- I took it directly from Jack's work; "The Emperor Wears No Clothes"At the end of "Let My People Grow" is a message from Jack. He tells is like a kindly professor;"I don't know how we keep fighting for this, but you guys gotta teach yourselves. You guys...Listen, you guys have to be warriors for your own freedom. You can't depend on me or anyone else to win this freedom for you.This freedom comes from our willingness to put our act on the line, and teach people all the comprehensive information that we can use Hemp as fun, as paper, as fiber, as fuel."LIBERATE CANNABIS
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #19 posted by FoM on September 19, 2009 at 08:48:10 PT
Museman
I just love Jack Herer. So many people involved now are uppity and chasing money. Jack has always made me feel that caring about reform is what is important. I do hope he recovers and has many more years of blessing us with his presence.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #18 posted by museman on September 19, 2009 at 08:06:36 PT
FoM: Jack
It doesn't sound very good, but apparently he is still in the ring and fighting.http://tinyurl.com/nfuh5l
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #17 posted by FoM on September 19, 2009 at 05:36:53 PT
I Need To Mention This
I have been reading different reports on Jack Herer. I do not know what is going on. Some people are saying he is fighting for his life and others are saying he passed away. I hope he makes it and I will continue to hope and pray for him and his family. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #16 posted by Hope on September 18, 2009 at 20:17:49 PT
FoM
There's no doubt that what you say is true.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #15 posted by FoM on September 18, 2009 at 18:55:17 PT
Hope
People that don't want us to change the laws will send in people to do the work of division. Not everyone is really for us that has ever posted here for instance. How are wars won? Divide and conquer.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #14 posted by Hope on September 18, 2009 at 18:38:31 PT
NYT forums
They still have them on some articles but they used to have a regular drug law forum. I was reading them at the time. There was one scary creep that was posting there. He was talking about body bags and threatening to kill prohibs and burn houses and buildings. It was horrible. Instead of just getting rid of him, they shut the forums down. Sometimes I wonder if he wasn't a prohib plant specifically in there to cause trouble or lure someone else into saying something or perhaps he was trying to cause what ultimately happened. They shut the forums down. No one was joining in his radical talk... at all. But they shut down the regular forums that where getting lots of posts and discussion at that time. Closed them down permanently.I hope Jack Herer recovers. Thank you for the update, FoM. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #13 posted by FoM on September 18, 2009 at 18:15:55 PT
Celaya 
I don't know if it is maturing or most places are moderated now. We have more out there people in a zone that is down right dangerous I believe. I have read articles about Obama that are horrible so I don't read them anymore. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by Celaya on September 18, 2009 at 18:07:58 PT
FoM
You could be right. It would have been okay with me, though, if they just stopped moderating. I may be wrong, but it seems the Internet community is maturing and is less prone to flaming these days. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by FoM on September 18, 2009 at 17:56:38 PT
Update On Jack Herer
Marijuana Activist in Critical Condition After Collapsing at Portland Festival***By Anne Saker, The OregonianFriday, September 18, 2009A well-known marijuana activist and author was in critical condition today at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center six days after speaking at the Hempstalk festival at Kelley Point Park.Jack Herer, 70, the author of "The Emperor Wears No Clothes," suffered a heart attack last Saturday as he stepped down from the stage at Portland's annual celebration of marijuana.Herer, of Lower Lake, Calif., is nationally known in the movement to reform drug laws to remove restrictions on growing hemp, a cousin of marijuana that does not have a psychotropic effect and has been used for cloth, paper, food and fuel for thousands of years.-- Anne Saker: annesaker news.oregonian.com Copyright: 2009 Oregon Live LLC.URL: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/09/marijuana_activist_in_critical.html
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by FoM on September 18, 2009 at 17:53:37 PT
Celaya
You're welcome. I think the NYT's and the Washington Post don't want to have to watch forum discussions and have to moderate them so they don't have them anymore.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by Celaya on September 18, 2009 at 17:46:38 PT
FoM
Thanks for the link! Unfortunately, this article was not one of those rare ones where the NYT allows comments. It's so sad when you remember the wealth of great forums that used to exist there.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by FoM on September 18, 2009 at 16:08:00 PT
Please Keep Praying For Jack
Jack Herer Continues to Fight for His Life in Portland HospitalSeptember 17, 2009URL: http://www.salem-news.com/articles/september172009/jack_update_9-17-09.php
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by FoM on September 18, 2009 at 15:54:30 PT
Networks Just Say Yes To Drugs
September 18, 2009Remember the drug war, when TV collectively enlisted in Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign and assembled "Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue" as foot soldiers in that cause? Well, peruse some of the more prestigious offerings on cable, and it looks like the forces of abstinence are in retreat.URL: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008845.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by BGreen on September 18, 2009 at 14:08:44 PT
Damn
If only he had solely used cannabis and never tobacco or alcohol.Damn.The Reverend Bud Green
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by FoM on September 18, 2009 at 13:33:16 PT
 duzt
I read that Patrick Swayze was seen smoking cannabis on the top of Cedars Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by FoM on September 18, 2009 at 13:30:56 PT
Boston Freedom Rally Tomorrow  
Friday, September 18, 2009 The 20th Annual Boston Freedom Rally will take place on Sat., Sept. 19 in Boston Commons. For the first time, the event will have two stages, meaning more bands and speakers. The rally starts at High Noon and ends at 6 pm. If you live in Boston or anywhere in the vicinity, be there!
 URL: http://www.celebstoner.com/200909182959/news/celebstoner-news/boston-freedom-rally-tomorrow.html
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 18, 2009 at 13:05:29 PT
Celaya
Does this help? I put the url in the copyright info.URL: http://drugsense.org/url/2j1Y8Olb
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by duzt on September 18, 2009 at 12:40:55 PT
Patrick Swayze
I noticed a magazine at the supermarket today (not sure which it was US something) that had something like "how medical marijuana helped Patrick Swayze" I didn't read it, bit it was good to see that on the cover. Hopefully it will open a few more eyes and minds.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by Celaya on September 18, 2009 at 12:37:22 PT
Does this article really exist?
Whenever I see an article on drug policy at the NYT, I try to go to it to see if they have a comments section - old NYT poster that I am. -- But sometimes, like now, the article cannot be found. I tried several names from the article for keyword searches but came up with nothing. --- Ideas anyone?
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment